'Controlled Burns and The Water Below' now showing at GCSC

Gallery Director Pavel Amromin hangs the "Controlled Burns and The Water Below" exhibition of photography by native Floridian Jeremy Chandler at the Amelia G. Tapper Center for the Arts Gallery at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City on Thursday.

Andrew Wardlow | The News Herald

By JESSICA McCARTHY / The News Herald

Published: Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 04:18 PM.

PANAMA CITY — Jeremy Chandler, a North Florida native, has spent years intrigued by the relationship between people and where they live and now he’s turned that intrigue into art.

“The work in the show is largely informed by my own cultural identity as well as an interest in other people’s relationship with the North Florida landscape,” Chandler said. “This is the place where I was raised and have continued to spend much time photographing. These works are not all a part of one project. However, as they are all shot in the same area, it makes it easier to group them together as a cohesive body to create new meaning.”

The show, Controlled Burns and The Water Below, opened at Gulf Coast State College Friday and features a selection of large color photographs and one short film, collaboration between Chandler and his friend Shawn Cheatham.

Chandler said the name of the collection references the fire and water present in all of the pieces in the show. He also said it is a metaphor for the North Florida landscape as a whole.

“Although there are some subtle differences between Panama City and the Suwannee River valley (where these photos were taken), I consider both places a part of the same greater northern Florida community,” Chandler said. “I suppose I’m trying to communicate how I see this place and my own experience to others who might also have intimate knowledge of those things.”

He said this is the first time he’s had the opportunity to showcase art so close to it’s origin of creation and he’s excited to see what local audiences think of the show.

“I can only speak for myself, but the things I experienced growing up here heavily influence my visual language,” Chandler said. “So it generally does (affect others) in my opinion. … I think that people sharing their own unique experiences is something that makes for a rich conversation, especially within the arts.”

PANAMA CITY — Jeremy Chandler, a North Florida native, has spent years intrigued by the relationship between people and where they live and now he’s turned that intrigue into art.

“The work in the show is largely informed by my own cultural identity as well as an interest in other people’s relationship with the North Florida landscape,” Chandler said. “This is the place where I was raised and have continued to spend much time photographing. These works are not all a part of one project. However, as they are all shot in the same area, it makes it easier to group them together as a cohesive body to create new meaning.”

The show, Controlled Burns and The Water Below, opened at Gulf Coast State College Friday and features a selection of large color photographs and one short film, collaboration between Chandler and his friend Shawn Cheatham.

Chandler said the name of the collection references the fire and water present in all of the pieces in the show. He also said it is a metaphor for the North Florida landscape as a whole.

“Although there are some subtle differences between Panama City and the Suwannee River valley (where these photos were taken), I consider both places a part of the same greater northern Florida community,” Chandler said. “I suppose I’m trying to communicate how I see this place and my own experience to others who might also have intimate knowledge of those things.”

He said this is the first time he’s had the opportunity to showcase art so close to it’s origin of creation and he’s excited to see what local audiences think of the show.

“I can only speak for myself, but the things I experienced growing up here heavily influence my visual language,” Chandler said. “So it generally does (affect others) in my opinion. … I think that people sharing their own unique experiences is something that makes for a rich conversation, especially within the arts.”

WANT TO GO?

-Who: Jeremy Chandler

-What: Controlled Burns and The Water Below" exhibition

-When: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

-Where: AmeliaG.TapperCenter for the Arts Gallery at GulfCoastState College

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